Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Patented Uct. 28, 1924.

` STATES l,5Z,L6

PATEN FFlCEL* STAOY B. HASELTINE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR', BY IvIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. H. IVI'INER, INC.. A CORPORATION OF DELAVARE.

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBING- MECHANISM.

Application filed March 2,1923. Serial No. 622,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STAGY B. HASELTINE, a citizen of'- the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement' in Friction Shock-fibsorbing -ldechanisms, of which the following isy a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had vto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invent-ion is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especiallv adapted for railway draft riggings, wherein large frictional areas are provided.

Another object of the invention is" to provide a mechanism of the type referred to, employing a plurality of relatively movable friction elements, and a co-acting wedge pressure creating means having a relatively keen and blunt wedge action with reference to the direction of the operating force during compression of the mechanism, whereby, quick release of the mechanismv is assured when the actuating pressure is removed.

A further object of the invention isto.' provide a mechanism of the character indicated employing relatively movable friction elements and a wedge pressnrecreatin'g means, wherein a differential wedge action is had in addition to the blunt and keen wedge action, whereby, certain release of the mechanism is assured upon removal of the actuating pressure.

Astill further and more specific object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism of the character indicated; a pair of longitudinally arranged tapering friction elements; a (1o-acting friction member, consisting` of a casingr enclosing the friction elements, and acting-as a spring follower; and a wedgepressure friction-creating means interposed between said friction elements and co-acting with said spring follower.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a draft rigging of a railway car, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a front end elevational view of the shock absorbing 4of Fig. 1. And Fig. 5 is a detail mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is" a transverse vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3 3* of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a transverse sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line it perspective View of the wedge member.

In said drawings, 10-10 indica-te clianne center or draft sills of a railway car, hav ing secured to the inner sides thereof front stop lugs l1 and ,rear stop lugs 12. The rear end portion of the draw-bar indicated at 13, has operatively associated therewith the hooded yoke 1li. The shock absorbing mechanism propel', including the front follower 15, is contained within the yoke, andthe parts are supported in operative position by the detachable saddle plate 16."

The improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises, broadly, a rearV follower A; a pair of heavy friction plates B-B; a combined spring follower and friction shell C; a sectional outer wedge D; an inner block E; a pair of friction wedge shoes F-F; a spring resistance G; and a retainer bolt H.

The rear follower A is in the form of a rectangular plate 17 provided with inwardly projecting, horizontally extending top and bottom flanges 18-1'8 and vertically extending side flanges 1.9-19, for a purpose hereinafter described. The rearface of the plate 17 is adapted to abut the stop lugs12 to thereby limit the rearward movement of the follower A.

The friction plates' B are of similar construction and are arranged on opposite sides yof the longitudinal axis'of the mechanism.

Flach of' the plates B is'provided at the rear end thereof with vertically arranged flanges 2O extending inwardly toward the aXis of lthe gear at right angles to the plate proper. The lianges20 `are adapted to bear on the inner face ofthe rear follower and thereby hold the plates against .rearward movement. At the outer side, each plate B is provided with a longitudinally extending, flat friction surface -21 adapted to co-act withthe combined friction shell and spring follower C. At the inner side, the plate is cut away at the fronti end to provide an inner flat friction surface 22, and topv and bottom flanges 23 extending inwardly at right angles `to the plate. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 the opposed inner friction vsurfaces 22 converge inwardly of the mechanism, being slightly ill) inclined with reference to the longitudinal axis o-f the mechanism and the outer surfaces 21 of the plates B, thereby providing the plates with tapering outer ends` Between th-e inner ends of the faces 22 and the flanges 2O the inner sides of thel plates B are cut away to provide concave longitudinally extending recesses 123 adapted to accommodate the opposed sides of the spring resistance G. As will be clear, upon reference to Fig. 1, the rear ends of the plates B are held against lateral outward movement by the fianges 19 of the rear follower.

The combined spring follower and friction shell C is of rectangular box-like form, open at the front end, and provided with spaced vertically extending side walls 24, spaced horizontal top and bottom walls 25, and a vertical end wall 26 integrally connected to the top and bottom walls 25, but having the opposed side edges thereof spaced from the side walls 24, to provide recesses 27 adapted to loosely receive the'outer ends of the plates B. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the recesses 27 are of an outline corresponding to the cross section of the plates B, having upper and lower inwardly extendmg branches, adapted to refceive the top and bottom flanges 23 of the plates B. The end wall 26 is provided with 'a fiat front face 28 adapted to form an abutment for the block E, and a flat rear face 29 adapted to form an abutment for the spring resistance G. The combined spring follower and friction shell C is adapted to lslide relatively to the plates B and each of .the opposed walls 24 is provided with a fiat friction surface 30 on the inner side thereof, adapted to slide on the friction surface 21 of the corresponding stationary friction platerB. K

The sectional outer wedge D comprises a Vpair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending, vertically arranged wedge elements 31,

' of` like construction. Each of the wedge elements 31 is provided with a front flat face 32 adapted to abut the rear face ofthe front follower, and inner flat converging faces and 34. The wedge face 33 extends at aV relatively keen wedging angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, and the face 34 extends at a relatively blunt angle thereto. The opposed longitudinal inner side faces of the wedge elements 31 are recessed as shown at 35 to pro- Vvide shoulders 50 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Theblock E is provided with a flat rear iface 37 adapted to abut the front face 23 of the wall 26 of the spring follower, an inner pair ofvflat inclined faces 33 adapted to cooperate with the friction wedge shoes F, an outer pair of fiat inclined faces 39 adapted to co-operate with the faces 34 of the outer wedge D, and longitudinally'extending side faces 40 connecting the faces 38and 39, respectively. The faces 38 'of the inner pair, converge outwardly and terminate at the side faces 40, and the faces 39 of the outer pair, also converge outwardly, intersecting at a point coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the gear. The faces 38 and 39 are all arranged at relatively blunt angles with reference tothe longitudinal axis of the mechanism.

The friction wedge shoes F are two in number, and are arranged at opposite sides of the mechanism. Each of the wedge shoes F is interposed between the wedge D and bloclr E, and the friction plates B, and is provided with a flat side face 41, adapted to slide on the friction surfaces 22 fof one of the plates B, and an outer Wedge face 42 corresponding in angularity Y t0 the flat wedge'face 33 lof the wedge bloclr D, and adapted to cooperate therewith, and an inner flat inclined face 43 corresponding in angularity to the co-operating flat face 38 of the block E. s

The spring resistance Gr is arranged longitudinally between the plates B, and consists of, an `outer relatively heavy coiled spring 44 and an inner relatively lighter coiled spring 45. The springs 44 and 45 are interposed between the spring follower C and the rear ends of the friction plates B with the front ends thereof abutting the inner face 29 of the end wall 26 of the spring follower C and the rear ends thereof abutting the inner faces of the flanges 20 of the plates B, thereby holding the flanges of the latter seated on the inner face ofthe rear follower plate 17.

y The parts of the shock absorbing mecha nism are held in assembled relation and under initial compression by the retainer bolt H, passing axially through the inner coiled spring 45, alined openings in the outer wedge D, block E, and end wall 26 of the combined spring follower and fric tion shell, having its opposite ends anchored inthe outer wedge and the rear follower, respectively. The inner end ofthe bolt is anchored to the rear follower by means of the head 46 engaging with the inner face of the end Vwall of the hollow boss 47V project-y ing inwardly from the rear follower, and the outer end of the boltr is anchored to the outer wedge D by means yof the nut 48, engaging the washer 49 seated on the shoulders 56 of the wedge sections 31.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism is as follows, assuming an inward or bufiing movement of the draw bar. The front follower will be forced toward the rear follower, moving the sectional wedge D therewith, thereby effecting a wedging action between the same and the friction shoes F, there being substantially no relative movement between the blunt aniso gle faces 34 and 39.' of the cuter wedge D and block E. This wed'ging action will' force the wedgeshoes apart, pressing the friction plates B1 against. the friction. sur'- faces 30 of the combined spring follower and friction shell, and moving the faces 43'fand 38 of the block E and the friction wedge shoes F out of contact. As. the vcompression of the mechanism is continued, the friction wedge shoes F, the block. E, and the combined spring follower and frictionishellx C, will' be movedrearwardfly relatively to the stationary friction .plateslia compressing the spring resistance G2 During this-operation, the plates B are held ,in fixed position by the rear ends thereofk engaging the rearv follower. As the friction wedge shoes slide. inwardly along the.converging-friction surfaces 22' of the platessB', a: lateraltmovement toward thelaxis ofthe gear of the. friction shoes and the wedge-.elements 3l will be` ef-A fected, thereby setting up a. differential wedge action. During the. lateral move'- ment of the wedge elements 3l,the blunt*` angine faces 34 thereof will move. toward the axis ofthegear, sliding on the. faces. 39 of the block E, thereby forcing the latter rear'- wardly. of the mechanism, eecting" an addi tional compression ofthe .spring resistance. Nhile the mechanism is being compressed, the combined' spring' follower and friction shell C will be expanded slightly by the wedging action., therebysetting up: a lateral tension ltherein. When', the gear iszoperated under draft, the rear followeris'moved toward the' fron-t follower: andthe" operation'T is similar toy that' jist,described.

Upon removal-sofi the; actuating pressure, the forcesY actingl inwardly towardftheraxis' of *the-mechanism; due to? the-tendency ofv the shellp'ortion of the spring followery (Tl to contract, will compresstheqwedgesections 3l, and the facesffoaiand-f39roftle wedgesiD' and E, which extend: at relatively". keenv wedging angles with reference. to the direc'- tion' of said inwardly acting forces, will slide on each other, thereby effecting Vthe collapse ofthe wedge: Dandvtheuquickand' certain release of the parts.v

Upon the wedging pressure"beingfrelieved,

the partsv will. all be restored tof their or1gnal position bythe spring resistance. G, the combined spring follower` and friction-3 shell beingmoved.' forwardly directly byfitlie exfpansion `of the springs, andthe .outeriwedge and wedge friction shoesfbeing-spreadv apart and moved forwardly bythev .inner wedge, When the parts have been'.v thus restored: they will occupy the position" shown` in Fig.l l, with the frontend ofthe combined spring follower and friction shell spacedfa slight distance. from: they frontV follower lo., B

leaving a spa-ce betweenv thefront follower and the. combined spring-follower an'dfri'c acting with the spring follower; a' wedge@ pressure creating means .interposedl between the front follower andthe spring follower.; and ai plurality of longitudinallyy arranged' friction plates, each of! said platesV co-fact; ing with .the `wedge pressure creating means and one` of the friction surfaces ofV said spring follower;

2'. In'. a friction7 shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with fron-t and rear followers; of al springresist'ance; a springv follower having a' plurality of longitudi-Y nally extending friction surfaces thereon; aI plurality of friction slices; a wedg'elpressure creating means co-:a'ctingwith` said fric:

tion shoes; andI friction plates interposed between the friction shoes and the friction surfaces of said spring follower.

3.. In all, friction shock absorb-ing, mech` anism, the combination with front and lrear followers; of a spring resistance; of a. spring follower havingk a plurality of; opposed longitudinally arranged friction surfaces thereon; a; tapered fricticniplate.vr co-'acting with eachfof said friction surfaces; a1 .wedge friction shoe co-acting with each' of:` said'` tapering 'friction plates; and-a; lateral.; wedge pressurel creating system-v coeacting: withfs'aid wedge; friction shoes.'V

45.1 In. af. friction shock4 absorbingV mech= anism, the: combination withy front andr'ear fol-lowers ;l of a' longitudinally movable fric4 tion` shell having opposed .interior friction surfaces; a: relativelyv fixed' friction plate zo-acting with? each Vof sai-d friction' surfaces; aay frictionf ,shoe sl-idable on eachf fric; tion plate; awedge pressureY creating means coeactingwithf" saidv friction shoes; `and a spring resistance` opposing. rearwardA` nio-Ve:-r ment offsaidf shell/,1 shoes and wedgepressiire creating means.

In'y au friction shock absorbing.. mech= anism; the combination with a.` longitudi nally movable `friction shell'y having4 a pair of opposed frietion surfaces'zonA the interior thereof; of ap'air' of opposed, :longitudinally arranged;y relatively stationary, Afriction-A plates?v within the' shell, each of isaid plates coeactingf with one ofthe friction f surfaces of said; shell; a 1 pair of wedgef-fshoes'fhetwecn the friction plates and co-acting therewith; a wedge pressure creating means co-acting with said shoes; and a spring 'resistance' opposing inward movement of said shell and wedge pressure creating means. f

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination withfront and rear followers; of a spring resistance; a combined friction shell and spring follower, having friction surfaces on the` interior thereof; friction plates co-acting with said shell friction surfaces; and a wedge friction meansy co-acting with said friction plates.

7 YIn a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear L followers; of a spring follower, having a plurality of longitudinallyarranged friction surfaces thereon; a` spring resistance co-v acting with the spring follower; a wedge pressure creating means interposed between the front follower and the spring follower; and a plurality of longitudinally7 arranged relatively stationarytapering friction plates, each of said, plates co-acting with the wedge pressurel creating means .and one ofthe friction surfaces o'f said spring follower.

-.8. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front, and rear followers; of a spring resistance; a spring follower having a plurality `of longitudinally extending friction surfaces thereon; a set of friction shoes; awedge pressure creating means co-acting with said friction shoes;l and tapering friction plates interposed between the friction shoes and the friction surfaces of said springfollower, said plates having their rear ends held in engagement with the rear follower by said spring resistance.

9. In a: friction shock absorbing .mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers; of a spring resistance; a spring follower having a pair of`opposed,.longi tudinally arranged, friction surfaces .thereon; a .rearwardly tapering friction plate co- Y acting witheach of said friction surfaces;

awedge friction shoe co-acting witheach of said tapering friction plates; and a lateral wedge pressure creating system co acting with said wedge friction shoes.v

l0.. In a. friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers; of a longitudinally movable friction shell, having opposed interior friction surfaces; a frictiony plate co-acting with each, of said shell vfriction surfaces; said plate having its rear endabutting the rear follower; a friction 'shoe slidable upon each friction plate; a wedge pressure creating means co-acting with said. friction shoes;

and a spring resistance opposing outwardY movement of said friction plates and rear- V ward movement,r of said shell, shoes and wedge pressure creatingmeans.

11. 'In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a longitudinally movable friction shell having a pair of opposed friction surfaces on the interior thereof; a pair of opposed longitudinally arranged relatively stationary friction plates within the shell, each of said plates co-acting with one of the friction surfaces o-f said shell; a pair of wedge shoes between the friction plates and co-acting therewith; a wedge pressure creating means, including an outer and an inner wedge, each co-acting with said shoes; and a spring resistance'opposing inward movement of said shell and said inner wedge. y

12..In a friction shockrabsorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers; of a spring resistance; a spring follower having a plurality of longitudinally extending friction surfaces thereon; a plurality of friction wedge shoes, each provided with a pair of wedge faces, said faces extending at relatively blunt and keen angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gear; an outer wedge having a plurality of wedge faces extending at a relatively keen angle to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism and co-acting with the keen wedge faces of said shoes; an inner member having a plurality of faces extending at relatively blunt angles with reference to the longitudinal axis of the gear and coacting with said blunt faces of the wedge shoes; and tapering friction plates interposed between the friction shoes and the friction surfaces o-f said spring follower.

13. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers; of a spring resistance; a ycombined friction shell and spring follower having friction surfaces on the interior thereof; tapering friction plates co-acting with said shell friction surfaces; a plurality of friction wedge shoes co-acting with said wedge plates, each of said shoes having an outer and inner face extending respectively at a keen and blunt angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the gear; an outer sectional wedge, .each section of said wedge being provided with a wedge face extending at a keen angle with reference to said axis and adapted to cc-act with a keen face of one of said shoes, and with a face extending at a relatively blunt angleV with reference to said axis; and an inner. member provided .with a .plurality of sets .of faces extending at relatively blunt angles with reference to said axis, said sets of faces being adapted to co-act with the blunt angle faces of said shoes and outer sectional wedge respectively.

14. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with a longitudinally movable friction shell; of a painof opposed friction surfaces on the interior thereof; a

co acting relatively stationary friction means within the said shell, said means being provided with a pair of opposed interior inwardly converging friction surfaces; a pair of opposed friction shoes co-acting with said friction surfaces; a lateral Wedge pressure creating means co-operating with said shoes; and a spring resistance for said friction shell and Wedge pressure creating means.

15. In a friction shock absorbing mechanisrn, the combination with ya longitudinally movable friction shell having a pair of opposed friction surfaces on the interior there of; of a pair of opposed, longitudinally arranged, relatively stationary, tapered friction plates Within the shell, each of said plates co-acting With one of the friction surfaces of said shell; a pair of Wedge: friction shoes between the friction plates and co-acting therewith; a Wedge pressure creat ing means including a pair of outer Wedge elements and an inner element, said outer Wedge elements and Wedge shoes having coacting faces extending at a keen angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the gear, said Wedge shoes and inner element having co-acting faces extending at a blunt angle with reference to said axis, and said inner and outer elements having coacting faces extending at a blunt angle with referencer to the longitudinal axis of the gear; and a spring resistance opposing inward movement of said shell and Wedge pressure creating means.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of February, 1928.

STACY B. HASELTINE Witnesses:

FRANCES SAVAGE, HARRIETTE M. DEAMER. 

